MONTCLAIR, N.J. – It is approximately one hour before game time, and groups of youngsters from various local camps bustle through the gates on a humid, early August mid-morning at Yogi Berra Stadium, located on the northeastern tip of New Jersey and a quick 20-minute drive from New York City.

They and others are arriving in anticipation of a matinee game between the Worcester Tornadoes and the New Jersey Jackals, one of two Garden State-based teams in the five-team independent Can-Am League. Bruce Springsteen’s “Rosalita” is fittingly blaring in the background, the state’s unofficial statesman to a working-class, underdog role of patrons who normally support the team.

Deep in the bowels of the stadium, Worcester catcher Mike Samela can relate to the working-class, underdog role in his own way. The recently signed Amherst College standout is taking the first step to continue playing the game he loves and laying the foundation for a future major league career.

This past college season, Samela led Amherst in batting average (.380), runs (30), hits (46), RBIs (33) and slugging percentage (.562). He finished his career among the top 15 players in the program’s history in seven different offensive categories. He also was the NESCAC Player of the year in 2011 and the Defensive Player of the Year for the conference this past season.

Through early August, Samela was hitting around .200 with one home run while splitting his time on a team buried in the league cellar.

Yet he has appreciated every moment.

“It has been pretty cool so far,” said Samela, who joined Worcester on July 12. “Honestly, it’s way different than what I experienced in college and it is just awesome playing baseball every day.”

He also has cherished the moments of playing with former major leaguer Jose Canseco, who recently left the team, and playing against and meeting New Jersey’s Angel Berroa, who he watched on TV as a youth.

“I met Jose (Canseco) for brief time and he was a good guy,” Samela said. “It was cool seeing him in our locker room.”

Samela admits the biggest adjustment has been the pitching.

“There is a big jump with the pitching at this level,” he said. “In our conference, we didn’t run into the type of pitching you see here. Playing every day is a big jump too because you’re throwing and hitting.

“At the beginning, I started every day here, but I recently have been a backup. But there still is the habit of warming up every day, more than I did in college.”

Along with catching, Samela has played some left field. He is willing to adapt his game to take the next step.

“That’s always the goal,” he said. “You always want to play at the highest level you can until someone tells you that you can’t play there anymore. I just have to work as hard as I can to get there.”

Samela joined Worcester without any expectations.

“I really didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I heard stories, but the first few days, I didn’t think of it any different. This is our second weeklong road trip and it is definitely different. I throw some stuff in a bag and hop from hotel to hotel. It is just an experience, but it is still living the dream.”

He would welcome an invite back.

“I feel like I am comfortable at this level and I would come back if they want me,” Samela said. “I’d like to play again at this level. Obviously, you want to get higher, but I could play here again.”

“Mike is good hitter and defensive catcher,” manager Chip Plante said. “He had a nice start here and we expect him to rebound.”

A native of Connecticut and a Yankees fan, Samela said sports have been a mainstay in his family. His brother Matt played baseball and football at Ithaca College and sister Leslie played soccer in high school. He said he is grateful for their support and learning to deal with pressure through them.

“I really don’t get nervous, and pressure is what you bring on yourself,” he said. “You’re always better than you’re doing. If you don’t feel that way, you shouldn’t be here. I know I’m facing faster pitchers, faster runners on the basepaths and faster balls coming at me. But it has all been fun.”

Looking at the final weeks of the season, Samela realizes the importance of regaining some of his initial form as a minor leaguer.

“I started off fast here and I’ve gone down some,” he said. “I feel there is work to be done, especially with my hitting. I just need to keep working hard through this.”